A major investigation has uncovered a thriving illegal trade that sees protected peregrine falcons stolen from their nests across the United Kingdom to satisfy demand from the Middle East. Over the past decade, hundreds of nests have been targeted, with chicks trafficked into a multi-million dollar international industry centred on falcon racing and breeding.
From Yorkshire Cliffs to Emirati Skies
The scale of the problem came to light during reporting in rural Yorkshire in 2023, where sources described thieves scaling remote cliffs to steal highly prized peregrine falcon chicks. Police Scotland launched an investigation in 2021 after reports emerged of a man boasting about his profits from taking wild chicks. The birds are coveted in Gulf states, particularly the United Arab Emirates (UAE), where elite falcons receive extraordinary care, including specialised veterinary hospitals and travel in luxury vehicles.
An undercover reporter from Arab Reporters for Investigative Journalism (ARIJ) attended an exhibition in Abu Dhabi, where traders expressed a clear preference for wild-caught British birds. One employee of a prominent Emirati falconry organisation stated that UK peregrines are valued for their proven race-winning records, pure bloodlines, and exceptional speed. This sentiment was echoed by multiple farm owners and falconers at the event.
A Legal Trade Masking an Illegal One
While trading captive-bred falcons is legal, trafficking wild birds into the captive trade is a serious crime. The UK is the world's largest exporter of live raptors, and the UAE is the biggest importer. DC Steven Irvine, who has been investigating the trade, noted significant growth in the falcon breeding industry over the last ten years.
Exclusive data from the RSPB shows that between 2014 and 2023, there were 126 reports of nests being raided, with 21 confirmed through camera footage, DNA analysis, or eyewitness accounts. All are linked to the peregrine falcon trade. Furthermore, inspections of breeding facilities in 2023 and 2024 uncovered 15 wild birds among captive populations.
PC Gavin Ross of the National Wildlife Crime Unit (NWCU) confirmed that DNA work proves wild birds are present in breeding centres nationwide. He stated that the majority of facilities investigated are non-compliant, with offences ranging from false parentage declarations to selling wild-caught birds.
Dispute and Global Context
Some industry figures dispute the scale of the problem. Julian Mühle, CEO of the International Association for Falconry, argues that discovering wild falcons in breeding centres does not indicate widespread criminality and that nest thefts are "extremely rare."
However, wildlife crime is the fourth largest illegal activity globally, after arms, drugs, and human trafficking. A 2024 UN report found over 4,000 species are targeted by traffickers, causing severe harm to ecosystems. This investigation demonstrates that this global crisis is active within the UK, reaching into the country's most remote landscapes and posing a direct threat to one of its most iconic protected birds.
